Wanna be inspired?  Read this story.

Patrick is a graduate of MN Adult & Teen Challenge 13-month long-term drug and alcohol recovery program.....that alone is something amazing to celebrate - it's not an easy program.

He went on to be part of their internship program and was then hired as the full time maintenance and landscape manager.  Patrick not only has a degree in Horticulture and blows me away with his intense knowledge of all things green and colorful, but is incredibly talented and skilled in so many other areas. He's an amazing carpenter, handy-man, guitar (and other stringed instruments) player, an artist and just an all around kind and generous guy!

Once he made the decision he wanted to be a homeowner - he began doing the work to make it happen.  His goal was to be able to purchase a home by mid 2023.

Oh did I mention the girl?  I think Patrick would agree that there was an increased level of motivation to buy the house, so he could propose and marry Sarah!

Sarah works for MNTC and they met through some employee work events and just seeing each other around the different facilities.  Sarah is amazing and an absolutely perfect partner for Patrick.  Her excitement, love and support throughout this journey has been fun to watch.  There have been lots of tears of Joy which are the best kind.

With determination, hard work and the market shifting enough to give buyers some amazing opportunities - Patricks dream became a reality sooner than he'd expected.  Offer accepted on September 14th, 2022 - Closing and getting the key to his very first home, October 12, 2022 just 28 days later. Wow!

And of course there's more to this story!  Patrick had also saved up and bought a ring during the time we were house hunting - I still remember the day he whispered to me, “I bought the ring this week”.  That ring burned a small hole in his pocket for sure, but not long after He proposed to Sarah and the following week is when they found their house!

When someone has lived their life in addiction they often destroy those chances or make it very challenging to overcome the hurdles that come with rebuilding their lives and their financial stability.  However, with hard work, the right tools and advice as well as the right people helping you and supporting you - it is possible! I'm seeing it happen.

I do this work because I love people - I love adding value to communities  - I love that I meet people who change my life and I get to be a small part of a journey that changes theirs.  I love watching dreams become reality!

This is not a transaction for me - this is a story about life - about Patrick and Sarah - about me - about core values - life and love - hard work and determination - support and encouragement about organizations like MN Adult and Teen Challenge - about miracles and dreams! I am blessed!

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you’ve imagined.

-Thoreau